RANKIN — The village will soon have two part-time police officers employed for the first time since April 2011.

The village board voted 5-1 (last Thursday) to authorize part-time Police Chief Robert Yates to hire a second officer to work up to eight hours per week.

Yates said Monday he has hired Robert King of Rantoul, who has no experience working as a police officer but has received his necessary certification. King is a 2002 graduate of Rantoul Township High School who works full-time as a security guard at Market Place Mall in Champaign.

The hire should give Yates more flexibility in his schedule patrolling Rankin and provide an extra officer who the village can depend on when Yates is not available. Board members felt now was a good time to employ another officer given that the busier summer months are approaching.

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